Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Driver/sales workers
- Median annual wage: $36,680
- Median hourly wage: $17.63
- Total employment: 250 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Yuma
Uncertainty clouds the current job market. On one hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports unemployment rates at 4.2% as of May 2025—and that hasn't changed much in the past year, a typical indicator of a positive economy. At the same time, average weekly earnings have increased by 3.9% over the 12 months ending May 2025 to reach $1,243.03.
However, the American economy may soon shift. The Trump administration's federal budget cuts have eliminated tens of thousands of jobs, and constant changes in import tariffs leave companies unable to plan for their future employment needs.
With these factors in mind, minimum or low-wage jobs are increasingly unsustainable for most. In 2025, a full-time job at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour puts a worker under the poverty threshold, according to the Economic Policy Institute. While states can opt to have higher minimum wages, 20 states are at or below the federal minimum as of 2025.
Salaries can also vary by gender, race, and educational attainment. According to a March 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, women's earnings are about 85% of men's, and women also remain overrepresented in low-paying jobs. Meanwhile, April 2025 BLS data shows that Hispanic workers' median earnings lag behind those of other race and ethnicity groups, and full-time workers without a high school diploma earned the least compared to their more educated counterparts.
It's important to note, though, that low pay doesn't always equal low job satisfaction. Some people feel drawn to a particular field, seek a certain work environment, or aim for work-life balance. No matter the reason, Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Yuma. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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santypan // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $36,670
- Median hourly wage: $17.63
- Total employment: 290 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $36,660
- Median hourly wage: $17.62
- Total employment: 60 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
4 / 50#46. Sheet metal workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.54
- Total employment: Not available
ESB Basic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Customer service representatives (tie)
- Median annual wage: $36,490
- Median hourly wage: $17.54
- Total employment: 1,400 people (20.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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worradirek // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $36,310
- Median hourly wage: $17.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $36,200
- Median hourly wage: $17.41
- Total employment: 130 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Parts salespersons
- Median annual wage: $35,930
- Median hourly wage: $17.27
- Total employment: 160 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $35,890
- Median hourly wage: $17.26
- Total employment: 570 people (8.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $35,830
- Median hourly wage: $17.22
- Total employment: 400 people (5.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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New Africa // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $35,680
- Median hourly wage: $17.16
- Total employment: 470 people (6.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
hedgehog94 // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Pest control workers
- Median annual wage: $35,270
- Median hourly wage: $16.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kanemme6 // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Tire repairers and changers
- Median annual wage: $35,230
- Median hourly wage: $16.94
- Total employment: 130 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $35,140
- Median hourly wage: $16.89
- Total employment: 380 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 270 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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worradirek // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Helpers--production workers
- Median annual wage: $34,930
- Median hourly wage: $16.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $34,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.79
- Total employment: 1,050 people (15.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $34,690
- Median hourly wage: $16.68
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $34,670
- Median hourly wage: $16.67
- Total employment: 610 people (8.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $34,630
- Median hourly wage: $16.65
- Total employment: 260 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $33,970
- Median hourly wage: $16.33
- Total employment: 1,870 people (27.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAVV // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse
- Median annual wage: $33,910
- Median hourly wage: $16.30
- Total employment: 3,570 people (51.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $33,710
- Median hourly wage: $16.21
- Total employment: 80 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food preparation workers
- Median annual wage: $33,370
- Median hourly wage: $16.04
- Total employment: 300 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $33,190
- Median hourly wage: $15.96
- Total employment: 890 people (12.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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zhu difeng // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Median annual wage: $32,980
- Median hourly wage: $15.86
- Total employment: 90 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.77
- Total employment: 400 people (5.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Richard Thornton // Shutterstock
28 / 50#22. School bus monitors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,750
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Tutors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $32,750
- Median hourly wage: $15.74
- Total employment: 100 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $32,660
- Median hourly wage: $15.70
- Total employment: 80 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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aboutsung // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $32,620
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 250 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $32,610
- Median hourly wage: $15.68
- Total employment: 870 people (12.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Weerayuth Kanchanacharoen // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
- Median annual wage: $32,480
- Median hourly wage: $15.61
- Total employment: 1,300 people (18.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Sewing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $32,210
- Median hourly wage: $15.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $31,800
- Median hourly wage: $15.29
- Total employment: 210 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Undrey // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Data entry keyers
- Median annual wage: $31,750
- Median hourly wage: $15.27
- Total employment: 60 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $31,220
- Median hourly wage: $15.01
- Total employment: 70 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $31,030
- Median hourly wage: $14.92
- Total employment: 140 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $30,630
- Median hourly wage: $14.73
- Total employment: 1,870 people (27.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $30,490
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 170 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Africa Studio // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,450
- Median hourly wage: $14.64
- Total employment: 70 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $30,170
- Median hourly wage: $14.50
- Total employment: 190 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $30,090
- Median hourly wage: $14.47
- Total employment: 2,090 people (30.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $29,890
- Median hourly wage: $14.37
- Total employment: 70 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 710 people (10.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Martin Smith // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Parking attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 70 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Recreation workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 180 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Instructional coordinators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 180 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Packers and packagers, hand (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: Not available
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Amusement and recreation attendants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $29,850
- Median hourly wage: $14.35
- Total employment: 70 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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